OREANDA-NEWS. On 22 July 2008 X5 Retail Group N.V., Russia's largest food retailer in terms of sales (LSE ticker: “FIVE”), announced that Standard & Poor’s affirmed its long-term corporate credit rating on the Company at BB- with Stable outlook.

In its report S&P has stated that the rating is supported, among other factors, by the Company’s leading position in the growing Russian food retail market, economies of scale and prudent cost management.  The rating agency noted that the Company’s aggressive growth results in an increasing need for capital.

Standard & Poor’s has commented positively on the Company’s liquidity position stating that “X5’s liquidity is supported by growing cash flow generation, a comfortable debt maturity profile, and the flexibility provided by the largely discretionary nature of the Group’s capital investment requirements”.